THERESA May told a Belfast audience that Northern Ireland got “great benefits” from being in the UK and that she would “always make the case for it”.
The Prime Minister was making a speech in the city at the end of a two day trip to Ulster where she also visited the border with the Republic for the first time since the EU referendum.
Her comments on the Union echoed many she has made to Scottish audiences, and provoked concern she was not acting as a neutral arbiter in terms of the peace process and as required under Good Friday Agreement. “Northern Ireland makes a major contribution to our Union, and it also derives great benefits from being an integral part of the UK,” she said.
“Every family and every business benefits from the strength and security that comes from being part of the world’s fifth largest economy. The rest of the UK is by far Northern Ireland’s biggest market, accounting for over half of its sales. I believe in the partnership of our four great nations in one proud Union and I want it to endure for generations to come. So a government I lead will never be neutral in our support for the Union. We will always make the case for it.”
During her speech she lashed out at internal Conservative critics of her plans for the Irish border, accusing them of being ready to “betray” the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic.
And she urged the EU to “evolve” its backstop on the border. In a sign of growing concern in Dublin about the prospect of a hard Brexit, Irish Taioseach Leo Varadkar suggested Ireland could close its airspace to UK planes if Britain seeks to ban EU ships from fishing in its waters.
May restated her opposition to the European Commission’s proposed “backstop” arrangement which would see Northern Ireland remain within the EU customs union and single market. This would involve the creation of a customs border within the UK, which was “something I will never accept and I believe no British Prime Minister could ever accept”, she said. Stephen Farry, of the Alliance party, hit out: “The backstop is...anything but a threat to the Good Friday Agreement, rather it recognises and protects Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here